Method for rocket launching

ABSTRACT

A method of assembling, preparing, transporting to a launch site, and launching a rocket is disclosed. The rocket includes multiple stages and a payload to be carried into space. The rocket&#39;s longitudinal main axis extends horizontally during the assembling, preparing, and transporting of the rocket. The completed rocket may be transferred from a ship to a floatable structure with the rocket&#39;s main axis extending horizontally. The floatable structure can be movable and can raise the rocket prior to launching the rocket into space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention concerns a method for assembling, preparing, transportingto the launching site and launching of a rocket, wherein the rocketconsists of a plurality of modules and a payload which shall betransported into space.

2. Description of the Related Art

Large rockets for transport of payloads into space consist of severalstages which are built separately. The payload, which may be asatellite, is built separately and subsequently transported to theinstallation site for the rocket where it is assembled therewith.

Large rockets for transport of payloads into space can have a length of50 meters or more. They are optimized with regard to weight, and aredesigned in order to withstand substantial loads in their longitudinaldirection, while they are only designed to withstand small loads in thetransverse direction. Consequently they are not designed to withstand ina horizontal position those forces and bending moments which result fromthe weight of the completed rocket filled with fuel.

The rockets contain a number of advanced systems, such as mechanical,electrical and optical systems, the assembly of which is complicated,and which demands a comprehensive preparation before launching.

In the prior art assembly, preparation, transport and filling with fuelare performed with the rocket's main axis extending vertically, thusavoiding the said forces and bending moments. The rocket is transportedin a vertical position to the launching site, whereupon it is launched.

Assembly and preparation of a rocket in a vertical position required thework to be performed by means of scaffolding or the like which ensuresaccess to the various parts of the rocket. Transport of a large rocketin a vertical position over large distances is virtually impossible,since, in addition to obstacles in the form of bridges etc., such a highstructure will be exposed to enormous forces from horizontalaccelerations during transport. According to the prior art, assembly andpreparation of rockets therefore take place in the immediate vicinity ofthe site from which the rocket shall be launched.

Due to the earth's rotation the most favorable location for launchingrockets is at the equator. However, the assembly and preparation of alarge rocket require considerable resources both in the form ofexpertise and material, and these resources are most available in areaswhich are not situated at the equator. In practice, therefore, theassembly, preparation and launching of the rocket can take place in anarea where the necessary resources are easily available, while forgoingthe advantage of launching the rocket from the equator, or the rocketcan be launched closer to the equator with the resulting increase inlogistic difficulties.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,334 describes a floating launching structure forspace rockets. The structure is transported to the launching site on asemi-submersible barge-like ship. The ship is submerged and sails away,leaving the structure lying in the water. In this case too, all the timethe rocket is standing vertically on the launching platform, thispresupposing that it has been assembled in advance.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,358 describes a floating launching platform forspace rockets. The platform is during the transport to the launch sitesupported by a semi-submersible barge-like ship, this ship pulling theplatform along. The ship is submerged and sails away, leaving theplatform lying in the water. In this case too the rocket is standingvertically on the launching platform all the time, this presupposingthat it is assembled in advance.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,999 describes a jack-up platform for launchingrockets. The rocket is assembled vertically on a movable structure at asuitable location on shore. The rocket with the structure is transferredto the jack-up platform, whereupon the platform is transported to thelaunching site at sea. Here the platform's legs are submerged in such amanner that they are secured on the bottom and form a firm foundationduring the launching.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,162 describes a method and apparatus for launchingat sea a rocket with a satellite or military weapon payload. Two shipsare aligned side by side and interconnected with trusses rigidlyconnecting and holding the ships a predetermined distance apart to forma rocket launcher. A pivotable cradle on a truss connecting the ships'mid-sections is used for raising the rocket to vertical position andsupporting the rocket above the sea. Exhaust gases from the rocket atthe launch is directed downward into the sea, between the two ships.

The above-mentioned patents thus describe how launching of a rocket canbe undertaken from a favorable position, e.g. at the equator, but offerno guidance as to how the rocket can be transported in an advantageousmanner, without the drawbacks which are associated with transport of alarge rocket with a vertically extending longitudinal axis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a method for assembling,preparing, transporting and launching of rockets with easy access to theresources which are necessary for the assembly and preparation whileretaining the advantage of launching the rocket at the equator.

It should be emphasized that the present invention concerns largerockets. Small rockets have a simpler design, are easier both toassemble, prepare and transport, and are not within the scope of thepresent invention.

In the method according to the invention both assembly, preparation andtransporting to the launching site of a rocket, which consists of aplurality of modules and a payload which have to be transported intospace, are performed with the rocket's main axis extending horizontally.The problem of large forces and bending moments due to the weight of thefuel is solved partly by the fact that the rocket is resting in one ormore specially-adapted cradles or saddles where the weight isdistributed in such a manner that the bending moments are reduced, andpartly by the fact that a substantial part of the filling of fuel isleft until after the rocket has been raised into a vertical position.

The complete rocket, still with the main axis extending horizontally, isthen transferred to a floating structure. The floating structure isoptionally moved the remaining distance to the launching site, where therocket is raised to a vertical position and launched.

The assembly, the preparation and possibly the entire transport or apart thereof may take place on board a transport means.

Thus it is possible to transport the rocket in a simple manner, eitherpartially or completely on the transport means, or on the floatingstructure, to a favourable launching position at the equator.

In a further preferred embodiment the transport means is a ship, and thefloating structure is a platform.

In yet another preferred embodiment the ship has at least one covereddeck, and the platform is a semi-submersible platform, consisting ofhorizontal pontoons and vertical shafts with a deck provided on theshafts.

In still another preferred embodiment the ship has room for theassembly, preparation and transport of several rockets simultaneously.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of onespecific embodiment, with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a ship for assembly, preparation and transportof the rocket, and

FIG. 2 is a side view of a platform for launching the rocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a transport means in the form of a ship 1 with acovered deck 6. On the deck there are placed a first rocket stage 2, asecond rocket stage 3, a third rocket stage 4 and a payload in the formof a satellite 5. The rocket stages are brought on board the ship via aport in the ship's bow or stem (45 or 55), and then moved to the deck 6on wheeled trolleys or carriages. The rocket stages are then placed inspecially-adapted cradles or saddles 7, which may be integrated with thetrolleys or carriages.

The payload, illustrated here as a satellite 5, will normally be broughton board the ship in a different port from the rocket. It can be broughtaboard the ship through a hatch in the ship's side or through one of thesaid ports in the ship's bow or stern 45 or 55. The payload is alsoplaced on a carriage or trolley, and placed in a resting position in aspecially-adapted cradle or saddle.

On board the ship the various rocket stages and the satellite areassembled into a rocket whose longitudinal axis extends horizontally.The rocket's technical systems are then prepared by means of equipmentwhich is located on board the ship. The rocket and the satellite areconnected via suitable equipment to a control room 8 provided in theship, thus enabling the rocket and satellite to be monitored from here.It is also possible to fill some of the rocket's fuel, which may be insolid or liquid form, while the rocket is located in the horizontalposition in the ship. This must be done, however, with due considerationto the forces and moments to which the rocket is thereby exposed, sincethe rocket is only designed for limited forces and associated momentsacross the longitudinal direction.

After the assembly of the rocket is complete, it is transferred to aplatform via the port in the ship's bow or stern (45 or 55). The rocketwith its saddles is moved out through the port by means of a wheeledsystem, which may run on rails, to a lifting ramp, and is lifted over tothe platform, which process will be explained in more detail withreference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a floating structure in the form of asemi-submersible platform 20. The platform's main components consist ofhorizontal pontoons 21 with propulsion propellers 22, driven by theplatform's own machinery. On the pontoons 21 there are provided verticalshafts 23, on which there rests a deck 29. The platform is equipped witha hoisting device 24 and a hangar 25.

When the rocket is transferred from the ship to the platform, the rocketis moved as described above out through a port in the ship to a liftingramp. It is then lifted on board the platform in a horizontal positionby means of the hoisting device 24, and is brought into the hangar 25which is equipped with the necessary equipment to continue thepreparation if required. The rocket is monitored all the time from theship's control room 8. With the exception of the control room for therocket, the platform has all the means necessary for completing thepreparation of the rocket.

Before launching, the rocket is moved out of the hangar by means of atransport system, which preferably runs on rails, to a positionillustrated by dotted lines 26, and over to a launching ramp 30. Thelaunching structure is located on one of the platform's sides,preferably the platform's stern, where the platform's stern is the endwhich is naturally located at the back during a move. At the launchingramp, on the side which faces the platform, there is a flame shield orsimilar device (not shown) in order to protect the platform from flamesand heat from the launch.

The rocket is raised to a vertical position as indicated by thereference numeral 27 by means of a tilting/hoisting device 28. By thistime most of the platform personnel have left the platform. This can bedone via a gangway or ladder between the platform and the ship. Thegangway is then removed and the ship moved to a safe distance from theplatform, e.g. 2000 m, in order to continue the monitoring of thelaunch.

After the rocket has reached its vertical position, the finalpreparations are performed, including, e.g., the final fuel filling,where the rocket is filled from containers which are located on theplatform. The amount of fuel which is filled in this final phase is, asmentioned, dependent on the extent of the load which the rocket canwithstand across the longitudinal axis. As a minimum, this final fuelfilling will comprise filling of liquid oxygen, since liquid oxygenevaporates rapidly at normal ambient temperatures.

After this final preparation the last platform personnel are transferredfrom the platform to the ship via boat or helicopter.

The actual launch is controlled from the ship's control room. After therocket has risen some distance into the atmosphere, a land-based stationtakes over control.

The ship, and possibly the platform, then return to their port.

Thus the said object is achieved by having both easy access to thenecessary personnel and materials during the launch, while at the sametime allowing the launch to be conducted at the equator.

Compared with the known solutions mentioned in the introduction, inwhich it is proposed to launch rockets from platforms, the horizontalhandling and storage of the rocket provide a number of advantages.Firstly, transport becomes much simpler and cheaper, since it ispossible to use a ship with "normal" dimensions. In fact it is possibleto convert an already existing ship, e.g. a Roll-on/Roll-off cargo ship.Furthermore, far better protection is obtained with regard to horizontaltransport accelerations, since the forces which result from theseaccelerations do obtain virtually no moment arm when the rocket istransported horizontally. In addition the superstructure and access tothe various parts of the rocket become far less expensive, thus ensuringthat the assembly, preparation and transport can be performed withoutbeing affected by the meteorological conditions.

Finally, the considerable advantages should be mentioned which areobtained by the use of the same control room both for assembly,preparation, monitoring and launching of the rocket. An inexpensivesolution is hereby obtained, avoiding communication problems which caneasily arise, both between computers and other technical equipment, andbetween the control personnel.

The above description of a preferred embodiment does not take intoconsideration the location at which the rocket is transferred from thevessel to the floating structure. Both the vessel and the floatingstructure are designed in such a manner that they can store the completerocket for some time, since both will be equipped with the necessaryconnection facilities for monitoring the rocket's and the satellite'stechnical systems from the ship's control room. Thus it is possible, forexample, either to transfer the rocket from the vessel to the floatingstructure while both are lying in port, or while both are located at thelaunching site.

In the illustrated embodiment the ship is illustrated with room for onlyone rocket, but it is obvious that the ship may have room for morerockets, and room for three rockets appears to be a suitable maximumnumber from the practical point of view.

The invention has been explained in the above with regard to a specificembodiment. However, it is clear that a number of variants are possiblewithin the scope of the invention. For example, the invention is notdependent on how the rocket is transferred from the vessel to thefloating structure. Instead of using the illustrated hoisting device therocket can be brought up to the ship's upper deck by means of a lift,and subsequently transferred to the platform via a bridge. It is alsopossible to move the rocket by means of air cushion movers, these beingspecially suited to moving heavy equipment, if a level base is employed.

In the embodiment described the platform is described as asemi-submersible platform. However, the invention is not restricted tothis type of platform, and a jack-up platform, for example, with legswhich can be placed on the bottom, will also be well suited to thepurpose.

In a second embodiment the hangar on the floating structure can be madevertical, thus providing the possibility of performing the finalinspections and tests while the rocket is in a vertical position, andthus providing a somewhat safer basis for the start of the launch.Another possibility is to omit the entire hangar, thus obtaining a moreinexpensive design. This is relevant if the platform shall be used forlaunching rockets of a relatively robust design, where one is lessdependent on the final inspections, and less dependent on themeteorological conditions.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: assembling, preparing, transporting toa launch site, and launching a rocket having a longitudinal main axis,wherein the rocket includes a plurality of parts and a payload whichshall be transported into space, and wherein the assembling, preparingand transporting are performed with the rocket's main axis extendinghorizontally.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assemblingand preparing are performed onboard a transport device to construct acompleted rocket, thereafter the completed rocket, still with therocket's main axis extending approximately, horizontally, is transferredto a floatable structure.
 3. The method according to claim 2, whereinthe transport device is a ship, and the floatable structure is movable.4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps oftransferring the rocket from the ship to the floatable structure bybring the rocket through a port of the ship to a lifting platform,whereupon the rocket is lifted over to the floatable platform whilemaintaining the rocket's main axis extending approximately,horizontally.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the port isformed in a stem end of the ship.
 6. The method according to claim 4,wherein the port is formed in a bow end of the ship.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the transport device is a ship with atleast one covered deck, and the floatable structure is asemi-submersible platform including horizontal pontoons and verticalshafts with a deck provided on the shafts.
 8. The method according toclaim 7, wherein after the launching, the rocket travels in a directionaway from the floatable platform, such that the rocket's trajectory isapproximately 60 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of thefloatable platform's horizontal pontoons.
 9. The method according toclaim 2, wherein the transport device is a ship having facilitiescapable of simultaneously assembling, preparing and transporting pluralmulti-module rockets in a horizontal orientation.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the rocket is raised so that the rocket'smain axis extends approximately vertically prior to launching therocket.
 11. The method according to claim 2, wherein after thelaunching, the rocket travels in a direction away from the floatableplatform thus ensuring that the rocket is not over the floatableplatform if an accident should occur.